Job Opportunities for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

The profession of pharmacy has a plethora of job opportunities available for both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Although positions within the retail or hospital setting are the most prevalent as of late, there are many other opportunities available on major job boards and recruiting websites. Sometimes, all you have to do is think outside the box.

A World of Opportunity

There are many jobs at both the local and national level. Whether it be in your local community, by telecommuting, or traveling, there is an avenue that is right for you in this profession. Regardless of whether you are a pharmacist or technician, the profession of pharmacy is not just a job, but rather a career. It is up to you to find your niche, because a career is what you make it.

Practice Settings

One important consideration is the location or setting that best fits your career goals and your desired lifestyle. Here is a list of 15 of the many different settings in which a pharmacist or pharmacy technician can practice:

• Retail (chain or independent)
• Hospital (acute or non-acute care)
• Long-term care
• Mail order
• Compounding
• Consulting
• Regulatory
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Freelancing
• Insurance industry
• Clinical specialties (diabetes, Coumadin® clinics, HIV, emergency medicine, etc.)
• Informatics/information systems
• Poison control
• Research or teaching
• Drug information

Job Duties

Within the various possible settings, there is a huge variety of task types required of pharmacy workers. Whether you intend to practice as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, your day-to-day responsibilities could be quite varied.

Possible Functions of a Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technician duties in the practice settings mentioned above may include, but are not limited to:

• Prescription data entry and drug selection
• Medication compounding preparation
• Phone triage
• Customer service
• Pharmaceutical sales
• Document and report generation
• Inventory management
• Pharmacy software and robotics maintenance
• Teaching and training
• Medical writing
• Claim processing/adjudication

Possible Functions of a Pharmacist

Pharmacist duties in the practice settings mentioned above may include, but are not limited to:

• Prescription verification and quality assurance
• Medication compounding
• Medication therapy management
• Medical science liaison
• Informatics implementation and management
• Consulting
• Graduate-level teaching
• Drug research and development
• Formulary management
• Medical writing
• Clinical advising within a specialized therapeutic area
• Regulatory document and protocol development
• Leadership and staff management
• Drug information and toxicology correspondence
• Drug utilization review

Additional Considerations

As you can see, the umbrella of pharmacy covers much more than just working at the local pharmacy down the block. Your personality and interests should also be considered when you define your “dream job.” For example:

• If you are a pharmacy technician who is an extrovert who enjoys conversing with customers or clients, maybe a customer service or pharmaceutical sales role is the right path for you.

• If you are a pharmacist who enjoys information technology and the emerging role it plays in healthcare, maybe informatics implementation and management is your preferred avenue.

Think of the profession of pharmacy as a map with many roads and avenues. It is up to you to find your career path and it is okay to change directions (or roles) along the way. If you think a career as pharmacy tech might be the right path for you, we’d love to help you get there! We have free PTCB practice tests, study guides, and flashcards to help prepare you for exam day.